Metal shipping-crate.



J. A. MAYER, s11. METAL SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 18, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

huenfoz witnmozo J. A. MAYER, sR. METAL SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

UNITED STATE S ETENT QFFTQE.

JOSEPH ALBERT MAYER, SR., OF KENWOOD, MISSOURI.

METAL SHIPPING-CRATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn ALBERT MAYER, Six, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenwood, in the county of Knox and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Shipping-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and con'ipact form of knockdown shipping crate or case adapted particularly for transportation of pastry or the like, and especially constructta'l with compartments to contain pies, cakes, rolls oi? bread, and similar articles of pastry such as are most commonly shipped "from bakeries.

The invention resides particularly in the peculiar arrangement of the parts of the case, which are preferably of metallic construction, whereby the case may be readily collapsed and folded into a comparatively small amount of space after the contents hidden therein have reached their destination.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following detail description, and to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a metallic case embodying the invention, and taken about on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken about on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the case taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the case in collapsed condition taken about on the line -Zl-il-. of Fig. 5; Fig. is a longitudinal sectional view through the case collapsed, Fig. (l is a horizontal fragmentary section bringing out more clearly the manner in which the vertical edges of the end sections are received by the U-shaped flanges on the end portion of the side sections of the case, and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Throughout the following detail description, and on the several figures of the drawings similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings and specifically describing the invention the numeral 1 denotes the bottom of the case, said bottom being provided with side flanges 2 and 3 on which the side sections 2 and 3 respectively,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 496,777.

of the case, are pivotally mounted, and adapted to fold inwardly into the body of the case. The end sections 5 and (3 of the case are pivotally mounted upon the flanges 5 and (3 respectively, the latter extending upwardly from the bottom 1 aforesaid. intern'icdiatc oi the ends of the case is a partition 7 arranged to be set vertically and to be held in a vertical position by means of spring members -it applied to the inner side of the side sections 2 and 3. The partition 7 When in its operative position separates the ease into a large compartment adapted to contain loaves of bread or the like and a smaller end compartnient. Carried by the partition 7 at its upper section are two horizontal partitions 7 pivoted to the partition 7, and below said partitions T is a single partition 1.7, the latter extending the entire width of the case while the smaller partitions 7 are only about half the width of the case.

Supported on the lower partition 17 is a vertical plate 12 which is pivoted thereto and which virtually forms a vertical partition adapted to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 and separate the compartments beneath the partitions 7 into two separate spaces, as well as the con'ipartments above the partitions 7. In other words the plate 12 when in the position shown in Fig. 3 pro vides tour compartments above the partition 17 and these compartments may receive pics or similar articles of pastry. In that portion of the end compartment beneath the partition 17 may be arranged cakes or the like. Of course it is to be understood that any size of commodities may be placed in the case comprising this invention and whether it is used for bakery purposes or not. The ends of the partition 7 are denoted at 8 and it will be observed that the cover 9 of the case is made in two sections, each section being pivoted at its outer edge to one 01 the side sections of the case, and the adjacent edges of the cover section being adapted to interlock as shown at 9" in Figs. 2 and 3.

The several side and end sections 2, 3, 5,and (l, are adapted to be connected at the corners of the gate by means of hooks 11 carried by the end sections and adapted to engage in staples or members of like form applied to the side plate. Furthermore, each of the side sections 2 and 3 is provided at its end with vertical U-shaped flanges 13 adapted to receive the edge portion of the end sections 5 and 6 to afford a more rigid and interlocking connection between the parts of the case under actual conditions of service.

It will be observed by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 that in order to collapse the case it is only necessary to press the spring 4 outwardly at the end adjacent to the partition 7 and then fold this partition down in the position shown in Fig. 5. In so folding the partition 7 the horizontal partitions '7 and 17 may be folded in opposite directions to rest flat as shown in Fig. 5. This having been done, the hooks 11 are released from the side sections 2 and 3 and the end sections folded down toward the bottom 1 first, after which the side sections are folded down on top of the end sections as shown in Fig. 4. The side section 3 is folded into the body of the case and carries with it a section of the cover 9. In like manner when the side section 2 is folded down on top of the side section 3 with its cover section a suitable fastening member 10 is adapted to connect the uppermost side and cover section of the cover 9 with a U-shaped member 10 applied to the flange 3 of the bottom 1. The main fastening member 10 is of course employed to connect the cover sections of the cover 9 together when the case is shut up ready for use and closed, (see Fig 1).

A case constructed in accordance with my invention is preferably made of metal plate and is exceedingly light as well as extremely rigid and strong when shut up ready for use. The manner of folding the case is advantageous and the compartment arrangement is excellent for the purposes of the inven tion, facilitating the use thereof for various purposes as will be readily evident.

It will be observed that the free outer edges of the horizontal partitions 7 and 17 carried by the vertical partition 7 are supported by means of ribs or ledges 7 and 7 respectively. lfi urthermore, the partitions 7 and 17 constitute registrating means between the partition 7 and the adjacent end of the section 6 of the case, the spring 4 holding the parts 7, 7 and 17 in proper position and very rigid.

It is contemplated to provide the body of the case with a suitable number of apertures for the purpose of ventilation of the contents thereof. These apertures may or may not be provided according to the desire of the user but are denoted at 18 in the drawing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A collapsible case comprising a bottom having end and side flanges extending upwardly therefrom, end and side sections pivoted at their lower edges to the respective flanges aforesaid, a cover comprising sections carried by the side sections and hav ing interlocking adjacent edges, a vertical partition pivoted at its lower end to the bottom and foldable thereon, members for holding said partition upright, a plurality of partitions pivoted to the vertical partition aforesaid and adapted to assume horizontal position with respect thereto, members on the adjacent end of the case to support the free outer ends of the last mentioned partition and fastening means for holding'the cover sections in proper position when the case is open and when collapsed.

2. A collapsible case comprising a bottom having integral end and side flanges, end sections pivoted at their lower edges to the end flanges, side sections pivoted at their lower edges to the side flanges, a cover comprising sections carried by the side sections and having interlocking free edges, a vertical partition pivoted to the bottom, horizontal partitions pivoted to the vertical partition at one end thereof, supporting ribs on an end section to support the free edges of the horizontal. partitions, the upper horizontal partitions being spaced, a transverse vertical partition carried by the lower horizontal partition and adapted to project upwardly into the space between the upper horizontal partitions, connections between the end and side section, and a fastening for holding the case open and closed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH ALBERT MAYER, SR. Vitnesses FRANK M: EARLY, JAMES M. VEIGAL. 

